Catspaw
Epioblasma obliquata (Rafinesque, 1820) |
Back | Forward | Index |
Catspaw |
|
| |
| Epioblasma obliquata, UIMNH Z-3767. Tennessee River, Lauderdale County, Alabama. Length: 1.8 inches (4.6 cm) for male (top), 1.2 inches (3.0 cm) for female (bottom).
| |
| Other common names Peewee.
| |
| Key characters Males and females both yellowish brown or brown but much different in shape. Males oblong and solid, with a shallow sulcus along the posterior ridge from the umbo to the ventral margin. Females rectangular, truncated, and inflated pos- teriorly with a finely grooved surface and serrated growth lines.
| |
| Similar species Northern riffleshell.
| |
| Description Shell small, solid, rectangular or quadrate in fe- males,
oval and elongate in males, and moderately inflated. Ante- rior margin rounded,
posterior margin bluntly pointed in males, expanded, truncated, ribbed, and
notched in females. Ventral margin broadly curved in males, straight to
slightly curved in females. Umbos full, about even with the hinge line and
directed forward. Posterior ridge double, with a relatively wide sulcus or
depression between the ridges in males, depression sharp and narrow in females.
Posterior-ventral portion of the shell in fe- males inflated with fine grooves
that radiate from the umbo to the margin of the shell. Growth lines serrated on
the edge in the pos- terior third of the shell in the female. Periostracum
yellowish tan or brown, with numerous fine green rays most evident in females.
Length to 2 inches (5.1 cm). Males much larger than females. Pseudocardinal teeth wide, elevated, serrated, horizontal; two in left valve, one in right with two smaller teeth on either side. Lateral teeth short, straight to slightly curved, roughened; two in left valve, one in right with a much smaller tooth below. Beak cavity shallow. Nacre white to purple, iridescent posteriorly.
|
| Habitat Medium to large rivers in gravel riffles.
|  |
|
Status Federally Endangered.
|
| Back | Forward | Index | Table of Contents | |
| Book Order Information | Publications Catalog | |
| INHS Mollusca Home Page | INHS Home Page |